Throughout August, we are turning our focus toward workplace technology adoption—why it’s important, how it’s achieved, and how companies and employees can benefit from it. Over the years, we have supported organizations in cultivating employee proficiency with software applications and improving organizational mastery of technology use, which ultimately leads to transformational growth.

We use that experience as a foundation for this series, and build upon it with the lessons both we and our clients have learned. Use this series as a guide as your organization formulates its own digital adoption strategy.

For employees, the modern workplace can sometimes feel like a minefield of new and unfamiliar technology, escalating demands, increasing distractions, and quick-changing business priorities. Without the right amount of support, training and communication, keeping up can be difficult. Getting ahead can prove even tougher.

The good news is that things are changing. Business leaders are realizing that they need to alter their approach, and they are beginning to understand the relationship between employee adoption of technology and organizational success. Employees are also shifting their viewpoints.

According to Pew Research’s 2016 State of American Jobs report, 87% of workers believe it will be “essential” or “important” for them to get training and develop new job skills throughout their work life in order to keep up with changes in the workplace.

But this transformation is like no other. It’s not just another top-down order, but a change in approach that puts employees at the center.

This transformation is not just another top-down order, but a change in approach that puts employees at the center

In last week’s post—the first in this series—we recalled what we learned at Microsoft’s recent Inspire conference, and posed a question: If Microsoft’s goal is to enable people and companies to achieve more by helping them realize their full potential with tech, how do we play a part?

For us, the answer is very clear—and it’s something we’ve known for the 25 years we’ve been in business. Digital adoption cannot be viewed in technological isolation without measuring the impact it has on individual employees and the potential for transformational growth it brings to an enterprise. After all, technology is supposed to enable you to do more, not less.

An approach that’s designed to cultivate your proficiency and propel organizational mastery with technology is key. In last week’s post, we outlined our human-centric approach to technology adoption as it relates to business leaders. This week, we examine how the methodology benefits you, the employee.

Phase 1, DISCOVER: One-size-fits-all training is not enough. When learning objectives and milestones are based on an actual assessment of your proficiency level and of your job responsibilities, you are more likely to meet those objectives and apply the knowledge immediately.

Phase 2, PLAN: Data collected from diagnostic tools is used to design a customized, immersive learning program. This enables you to focus on what counts—for you, and for your organization.

Phase 3, ADOPT: Everyone learns differently. Individual and organizational growth is more likely when you know about and have access to a variety of options, including skill tracks, live support, and targeted, short-burst learning opportunities.

Phase 4, EMPOWER: As you move through the adoption and proficiency skill path, you lay a foundation for digital growth for yourself and for your company.

The workplace today can sometimes feel like a minefield, but as more companies shift their approaches to technology adoption, it may quickly become more like an up-to-date roadmap that leads you toward a welcome destination.

Jen is an award-winning journalist who writes about workplace productivity and technology for Vitalyst. She believes in the power of using plain language, especially when writing about technology, and lists “achieving and enabling clarity” among her life goals.